04.12.2011- Urban Outfitters SS12

Last week I was invited along to the Elms Lesters Painting Rooms to have a sneaky peek at what Urban Outfitters have on the cards for SS12. Whilst it seems crazy to be planning for the summer when we're only three weeks away from Christmas Day (aaah!), it was lovely to escape the gloomy London weather to have a look at the vibrant colours and exclusive designer collaborations on offer for next year...

The amazing location!

Urban Outfitters' own label collection for SS12 consists of floral prints, bold colours and graphic patterns...

...and there are some amazing designer pieces to come for next season- this beautiful Jonathan Saunders scarf immediately caught my eye. 

This stunning printed dress by Australian label Something Else was another highlight...

...as was this exclusive Matthew Williamson design.

Other exclusives on show included offerings from tba and Claudie Pierlot, incorporating cute collar details and luxurious fabrics.

There was also an amazing array of accessories on offer...

...and some beautiful swimwear, including this Missoni-esque bikini.

Finally, this beautiful canary yellow dress was a real ray of sunshine!

I was really impressed with everything I saw- the core collection was really strong, featuring summer staples such as flyaway blouses, simple shorts and a range of really easy to wear dresses. I also loved the look of all the designer collaborations to come for next season (particularly the Matthew Williamson range!), and can't wait to see everything again in store. Thanks to Urban Outfitters for the invite!

Do you like the look of Urban Outfitters' collections for SS12? 

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

17.11.2011- F&F at Tesco SS12

On Tuesday, I was lucky enough to be invited to a preview of the SS12 collection from Florence and Fred at Tesco. After hopping on the train with my partner in crime Sarah, we met up with a handful of other lovely bloggers who were attending including Hannah, Emma, Sophie and Jazmine at Waterloo, before meandering along the South Bank to the OXO Tower, where the event was being held. The beautiful SS12 collections were a literal ray of sunshine on a freezing cold evening, and I was really impressed by the quality of everything I saw. Here are a few of my highlights:

The long line of mannequins which greeted us as we arrived.

 Vibrant colours and classic cuts made up the Modern Graphic collection...

...and there was an array of beautiful blouses on display.

My favourite selection of looks were found in the Great Gatsby range- loose fitting shapes, romantic details and pretty patterns all promised a touch of the 1920s for next season. 

This stunning lace midi dress caught a lot of attention too- a classic, simple and really sophisticated piece.

There was an amazing variety of swimwear on show- tropical prints and retro inspired shapes evoked perfect poolside chic (and made me really want to book a holiday!)

We also glimpsed a sneak peek at the range of party wear on offer for this year, including this shimmering flapper dress and this monochrome design with a classic peplum detail.

The accessories and shoes on offer were just as impressive as the clothing- I need a pair of the smoking slippers in my life!

We were also given a tag to attach to our favourite piece from the new collection, and I chose this limited edition polka dot blouse after falling in love with it as soon as I saw it. I think it's really versatile and I adore the gold buttons!

Of course, no evening would be complete without cake...

...and a snap of the beautiful view we had as we began our journey home.

Finally, Hannah, Emma, Sarah and I had a good old giggle in the Say Fromage photobooth which was installed for the duration of the night...

Overall, it was a brilliant evening, spent in wonderful company. I had a great time nattering away to the lovely girls who Sarah and I are beginning to christen our 'blogging family', and I was really impressed by the stunning (and fantastically affordable!) collections to come from Tesco for SS12. Thanks so much to Tesco and We Are Social for the invite!

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission and Say Fromage.)

06.11.2011- Forever 21

On Wednesday, Sarah and I were invited along to a preview of Forever 21's SS12 collections. The venue, 24 Kingly Street, was transformed into a series of themed booths for the evening, beautifully showcasing each collection, and making us both very eager for the return of the warmer weather:

The beautiful, brightly coloured Riviera inspired collection made me want to reach for my suitcase- nautical touches, sharp tailoring and colour blocking showcased a sophisticated take on summertime chic. 

There was an amazing array of jewellery on display, and I adored everything. The amazing Shine team also created this origami swan from scratch to display all the pretty accessories on offer for next season!

The final booth we visited was home to my favourite collection of the evening-60s Doll. Beautiful lace details, peter-pan collars, pastel shades and patterns encapsulated an airy, whimsical feel- and I added almost every piece to my must buy list for next year. 

There was just time for a sneaky outfit snap on the way home (against the glamorous backdrop of Victoria station!)

Coat- Topshop

Jeans- Topshop

Loafers- River Island

Overall, it was a lovely event, and great to see what Forever 21 have up their sleeves for next season. I wasn't overly familiar with the brand before, but was really impressed with what I saw, and can't wait to snap up some of the SS12 pieces when they hit stores in February. 

What do you think of Forever 21? Do you like the look of their new collections?

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

25.10.2011- Midnight (well, half 7!) at the Oasis

Last Wednesday, Sarah and I were lucky enough to be invited along to a blogger's party thrown by Oasis to celebrate the launch of their recently revamped Argyll Street store. The event started in their beautiful Regent Street Press Office, where we enjoyed cupcakes, champagne and were offered a sneak preview of their new collections before heading over to Argyll Street to collect a goody bag and have a look around the store itself. Here's a little snapshot of the lovely time we had:

Sarah enjoying a drink.

Samples in the show room.

The beautiful view over Regent Street.

Sarah fell in love with this limited edition coat, very Chanel!

There was also a little dressing up area where we were welcome to try on our favourite pieces, cue me pulling the most awkward face ever!

To celebrate their 20th birthday, Oasis have also reworked a selection of classic pieces from their archives, including this lovely white blouse.

The amazing fitting rooms in the Argyll Street store- I wish my house looked like this!

Inside the amazing Argyll Street store.

Overall, it was a really lovely evening. I loved the chance to see some of the new products up close (I've already drawn up a lengthy shopping list!), and the opportunity to have a good explore of the Argyll Street store was fantastic. A massive thank you to the lovely people at Oasis for the invite (and is there any chance you could come and decorate my room?!)

Also, apologies for the cringe-worthy title of this post, I couldn't resist!

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission, and Oasis)